Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polystyrene Modified with Esters
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J Therm Anal Calorim (2015) 121:235–243 DOI 10.1007/s10973-015-4547-7 Thermal and mechanical properties of polystyrene modified with esters derivatives of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol Marta Worzakowska Received: 14 September 2014 / Accepted: 6 February 2015 / Published online: 3 March 2015 Ó The Author(s) 2015. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract The thermal and mechanical properties of utilized as plastics, latex paints, coating, synthetic rubbers polystyrene (PS) modified with esters derivatives of and styrene alkyd coatings, for food-contact packing 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol were investigated. The influence of polymers, in electronics and building materials, as material the content of esters on the glass transition temperature, for the formation of toys, cups, office supplies, etc. [1–3]. dynamic mechanical properties, flexural properties, hard- On the contrary, styrene easily copolymerizes with differ- ness and thermal stability of PS has been examined. It was ent monomers such as acrylonitrile, methacrylamide, di- found that the PS/ester compositions were characterized by vinylbenzene, butadiene, maleic anhydride, vinyl chloride, lower stiffness, lower values of Tg, lower hardness, lower esters of organic acids, e.g., acrylates or methacrylates, stress at break, lower thermal stability and higher values of unsaturated polyesters or others creating polymeric mate- tg delta height and strain at break as compared to pure PS. rials with unique properties suitable for many industrial The obtained results proved that esters derivatives of applications [4–14]. 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol can find their place as an envi- In order to improve the processing, performance and ronmentally friendly, external plasticizers of PS. elasticity of plastic materials, the polar and non-polar addi- tives (plasticizers) are added. The interactions of plasticizer Keywords Polystyrene Á Thermal properties Á molecules with polymer chains cause disruption of the sec- Viscoelastic properties Á Flexural properties Á Hardness Á ondary valence bonds or van der Waals force between Plasticizers polymer molecules. As a consequence, a decrease in the intermolecular interactions and thus an increase the mobility of the polymer chains are observed. As a result, the materials Introduction are characterized by lower moduli, stiffness, glass transition temperature and hardness. Meanwhile, the ability of mate- Polystyrene (PS) is considered to be the most durable rials for elongation and polymer chain flexibility sig- thermoplastic polymer. It is used in a wide range of nificantly increase [15–17]. The most, generally applied products due to its versatile properties. Polystyrene is plasticizers are low molecular mass organic compounds, characterized by the resistance to biodegradation, stiffness which are characterized by low volatility in order to prevent or flexibility (with plasticizers), light weight, good optical, their rapid evaporation from manufactured products. Among chemical and insulation properties and facile synthesis. It is commercially applied plasticizers for PS, phthalate esters such as dimethyl, diethyl, dipropyl, dibutyl, diheptyl, dioc- tyl, diisodecyl or benzylbutyl phthalates are the most com- monly used [18–21]. In addition, the application of adipate and glutarate esters as plasticizers for the expanded PS and M. Worzakowska (&) the liquid paraffin and zinc stearate as an internal plasticizers Department of Polymer Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria is reported [22, 23]. However, most of phthalates have toxic Curie-Skłodowska University, Gliniana 33 Street, 20-614 Lublin, Poland properties for human. Due to this, the intensive studies on the e-mail: [email protected] new, non-toxic and biodegradable materials that could 123 236 M. Worzakowska replace harmful plasticizers are developed [24, 25]. In recent Experimental years, the utilization of eco-friendly plasticizers such as epoxidized vegetable oils, biodiesel oils, hydrogenated Materials Castrol oil, citrate esters, poly(ethylene glycol) of low molecular weight or core-hydrogenated phthalates has been Esters derivatives of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol were prepared investigated [26–30]. through catalyzed esterification process of 3-phenylprop-2- The main objective of this paper is to study the en-1-ol (98 %, Fluka) and acidic reagents such as succinic thermal and mechanical properties of PS modified with anhydride (99 %, Merck) or sebacic acid (98 %, Merck) esters derivatives of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol. This alcohol according to the method described in Ref. [32]. The occurs in nature in many oils and balsams such as cassia, structure of esters is shown in Scheme 1. The following styrax, hyacinth oils or Peru and Honduras balsams [31]. abbreviations for esters were used as follows: CBE (ester The esters of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol are aromatic- of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol and succinic anhydride) and aliphatic compounds, which differ in their structure and CSE (ester of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol and sebacic acid). thus in their properties. The ester of 3-phenylprop-2-en- Polystyrene was obtained by free-radical polymerization of 1-ol and succinic anhydride (CBE) contains two methy- styrene (POCh, Gliwice, Poland) in the presence of benzoyl lene groups (–CH2–), but the ester of 3-phenylprop-2-en- peroxide (1.0 mass%) as an initiator (POCh Gliwice, 1-ol and sebacic acid (CSE) contains eight methylene Poland). The reaction was carried out at 60 °C. Raw PS groups (–CH2–) in their chain spacer. CBE is a liquid was washed with methanol in order to remove un-reacted with boiling temperature of 210 °C; however, CSE is a monomer and benzoyl peroxide. After filtration, bulk PS solid with melting and boiling temperatures of 92 and was dried to a constant mass. The obtained bulk PS was 260 °C, respectively. It is worth noting that those esters characterized by SEC method. The average molecular mass have high thermal stability and thus low volatility. The and a polydispersity of prepared, bulk PS were 105, 000 thermal decomposition of CBE starts about 220 °C. and 2.7, respectively. However, the beginning of the thermal decomposition of CSE is visible at 270 °C. CBE and CSE are slowly Sample preparation hydrolyzable, well-soluble compounds in organic sol- vents and well miscible with thermoplastic polymers The PS/ester compositions were prepared by solution [32]. Due to their properties, they can find their place as blending. Polystyrene was dissolved in hot chloroform, and potential, eco-friendly plasticizers for specific applica- then suitable amounts of esters were added. The solutions tions, especially in the areas where humans have a direct were precisely mixed. The obtained blends were deposited contact, e.g., for the production of toys, medical products and spread over glass plate. The samples were kept for and food packing. In order to check their action on the 5 days at room temperature and then at 60 °C under thermal and mechanical properties of chosen, commer- vacuum for 2 days in order to evaporate the solvent. The cially used thermoplastic polymer such as bulk PS, the compositions contain from 0.5 to 20 mass% of esters were compositions containing different ester content are pre- prepared. In addition, samples of pure PS were also pared. PS and esters were mixed together making the manufactured to compare the results. compositions containing from 0.5 to 20 mass% of ester. The influence of the content of esters and the structure of esters on the glass transition temperature, storage Methods modulus, Young modulus, stress and strain at break, hardness and thermal stability of prepared materials has Differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) was car- been evaluated and discussed. ried out with a DSC 204 calorimeter, Netzsch (Germany). Scheme 1 Structure of esters, O O where CBE is ester of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol and C CH CH2 OCCH2CH2 C OCH2 C C succinic anhydride, CSE is ester H H H of 3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ol and CBE sebacic acid O O C CH CH2 OCCH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2 C OCH2 C C H H H CSE 123 Thermal and mechanical properties of polystyrene 237 All DSC measurements were carried out in aluminum pans Table 1 DSC data of PS/CBE compositions with pierced lid. As a reference empty aluminum crucible CBE content/% Tg/°C Tmax1/°C Tmax2/°C was applied. The mass of the sample was about 10 mg. The dynamic scans were performed at a heating rate of 0 96 – 425 10 °C min-1 from 20 to 500 °C under argon atmosphere 0.5 96 – 423 (20 mL min-1). 1 96 234 421 Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed on 3 92 230 419 a DMA Q 800 TA Instruments (USA). Tests were con- 5 90 242 420 ducted with a double Cantilever device with a support span 10 89 233 417 of 35 mm. Measurements for all samples were made from 20 65 256 416 room temperature up to temperature until the sample be- come too soft to be tested. A constant heating rate of 6 °C min-1 and an oscillation frequency of 10 Hz were applied. The rectangular profiles of 10-mm-wide and Table 2 DSC data of PS/CSE compositions 2-mm-thick samples were used. The storage modulus CSE content/% Tg/°C Tmax1/°C Tmax2/°C 00 (E20 °C, E30 °C), loss modulus (E ), tg delta maximum and tg delta height were evaluated. 0 96 – 425 Tensile properties were determined using a Zwick Roell 0.5 95 – 420 Z010 testing machine (Germany). The specimen dimen- 1 94 230 418 sions were 10 mm wide and 2 mm thick. The measure- 3 90 231 415 ments were carried out at room temperature with the 5 92 234 414 crosshead speed of 2 mm min-1. Young modulus, stress at 10 87 238 413 break and strain at break were determined. 20 60 240 410 Hardness according to Brinell (HK) was evaluated by means of a hardness tester HPK and calculated based on following equation: HK [MPa] = F1 * 0.098066, where F1 is a strength of pressure under definite load.